U.S. Steel Clairton plant under scrutiny after deadly blast
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U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works on Monday. Photo: Chrissy Suttles/Axios
U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works is under fresh scrutiny after an explosion killed two workers this week.
The big picture: Once a defining part of the Pittsburgh region's economy, the nearly 400-acre facility is increasingly criticized for its environmental impacts and past safety incidents.
Catch up quick: The explosion at the century-old factory on Monday morning killed two workers and injured at least 10 — one of the region's deadliest industrial disasters in years.
- Scott Buckiso, senior vice president and chief manufacturing officer, said Tuesday gas from ovens in one section of the plant — grouped in rows known as "batteries" — exploded and caused sudden pressure bursts in another section, creating two additional loud booms that were initially mistaken for explosions.
Case in point: The plant has experienced multiple explosions, equipment failures and other accidents in recent years.
- A 2009 explosion killed a maintenance worker; a 2010 blast injured 20 others; and another in February hurt two workers.
- In 2016, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for assigning employees tasks that exposed them to asbestos.
What we're watching: The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is among those investigating what caused the explosion.
- "This is a very serious incident… It should not have happened and potentially could have been prevented," said CSB board member Sylvia Johnson in a statement.
The other side: U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt said at a Tuesday news conference he was "shocked and outraged" at any characterization that the company does not take safety precautions seriously, adding that he wants to hear more about any issues where workers feel at risk so he can understand it.
- "Safety is in our DNA. This is the first thing we cover in our board meetings. We take this extraordinarily seriously."
- He said he spoke with leadership at Nippon Steel Co. — which recently purchased U.S. Steel — following the incident and said the group supports continuing investment in blast furnace steelmaking.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said blast furnace steelmaking can be done safely and cleanly and has a future in the Mon Valley, citing Nippon's promised over $2 billion investment as proof.
Between the lines: Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi, a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Steel Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, told the Pittsburgh Business Times he wouldn't speculate on the cause of the explosion but worried that an influx of new hires may have left some workers without sufficient training.
Buckiso said the batteries that exploded were scheduled for maintenance in about a week. They have been shut down, and two nearby batteries that saw pressure releases were taken offline out of "an abundance of caution."
- He could not comment on how long the investigation will take.
The bottom line: Buckiso said U.S. Steel's first priority was taking care of the victims and their families.